The Guide To Dowsing

by Maggie & Nigel Percy
of DiscoveringDowsing.com

What Is Pendulum Dowsing & What Is It Used For?

A Pendulum Is Just A Tool

Pendulum dowsing is the use of a weighted object on a string or chain to get an answer, usually in a yes/no format, to questions you cannot answer rationally. You need to understand from the start that pendulums are used in many different practices, from hypnosis to healing. None of those are dowsing. It is a mistake to think that every time you see someone with a pendulum, they are dowsing.

The pendulum is merely a tool. It amplifies the answer so that you may see it more easily. There is no magic in your dowsing tool. It does not give you the answer. It is just a gauge. A tool is not needed for dowsing, as we explain in a later chapter. In fact, we like to teach dowsing by starting without a tool. Too often, teachers unintentionally lead students to think that the tool is somehow powerful and giving the answers, and then the students believe they cannot dowse if they do not have their pendulums. That is a faulty belief.

A pendulum can be made with any weighty object on a string or chain. It doesn't matter what materials you use. You just need to be able for it to swing and indicate “yes” and “no”.

While you can dowse without a tool, the pendulum is the most popular dowsing tool at this time, and it does excel in certain situations as opposed to using other tools or no tool at all.

Any Weighted Object On A String Or Chain Works

We are often asked what makes the best pendulum? Is a crystal pendulum better than a brass pendulum? The truth is, it doesn't matter what you make a pendulum with. Its sole job is to indicate “yes” or “no”. When we teach dowsing in person, we usually have the students make pendulums from a 3/4 inch metal nut tied to a length of dental floss. This actually makes an excellent pendulum.

Of course, like most dowsers, we have several pendulums made out of different materials. It is personal preference what type of pendulum you use. We happen to prefer simple brass pendulums, but we have all sorts. They all work well.

The only type of pendulum that requires maintenance is a crystal pendulum. Crystals tend to ‘accumulate' energies, and they need regular cleansing, no matter whether they are just sitting on a shelf or being used in a pendulum or for healing therapies. Use the appropriate cleansing method for the type of crystal in your pendulum.

Many dowsers use different pendulums for different types of dowsing. This is more often just preference or habit, not functionality. However, there are some pendulums that have specific uses, such as those which have witness chambers so you can put a sample of the material you are seeking in the chamber before you dowse. Another instance is that pendulums with pointed ends work best when you dowse over charts, because they indicate the answer better. By and large, though, it doesn't matter what pendulum you use.

You Can Go Beyond Yes & No

The job of a pendulum in dowsing is to indicate an answer. Pendulums used in other methods have other functions. A pendulum is used during hypnosis to help the subject focus and more easily fall into a hypnotic state. When practitioners do pendulum healing, they sometimes say they are employing the frequency of the pendulum, which depends on materials and shape, to aid the healing process or to help them focus better. But in dowsing, the pendulum has one simple job: to indicate the answer.

As we mentioned in an earlier chapter, the pendulum movements can indicate “yes” and “no”. In more advanced dowsing applications, you can use a pendulum over charts. We discuss chart dowsing in a later chapter. Chart dowsing involves swinging the pendulum in a neutral swing (meaning no answer is indicated) and allowing it to eventually move until it is swinging over the answer in the chart. Scales can also be used in dowsing, and a pendulum can swing over a scale, starting again with a neutral swing and then settling over the answer. Scales come in a number of forms, from linear ones that look like rulers and have numbers on them to fancy ones that look like protractors.

As pointed out in earlier chapters, tool use is the shiniest part of dowsing, but it is only one part. You cannot become a real dowser without also learning how to ask a good dowsing question, how to get into a dowsing state and how to be an ethical dowser.

Pendulums Are Used In Other Ways Besides Dowsing

Because there is a great deal of confusion these days about what exactly dowsing is, it's worth mentioning again that just because you see someone holding a pendulum does not mean they are dowsing. When you see someone using a pendulum, ask them what they are doing. Find out if they are finding answers to questions. If so, they are dowsing. If they say they are healing or transforming energies, that is not dowsing. That is using intention to make changes energetically.

It is important that we all be quite clear about what dowsing is, so that any conversation about dowsing does not lead to confusion and misunderstanding. We have taken to calling any type of healing using a pendulum “pendulum healing” (not surprisingly). If someone is using intention to change energies, and they are holding a pendulum, that is simply the use of intention. It would be terrific if someone can come up with an accurate name for that practice, but for now, let's agree not to call it dowsing.

What Tool To Use?

We made it clear from the beginning that a tool is not required for dowsing. But there are many different styles of tools, and there is a reason for that. Some types of dowsing are more easily done with a pendulum. Chart dowsing is an example. There is no better tool for chart dowsing than a pendulum, preferably one with a pointed end, so you can clearly see what answer is indicated. Map dowsing is another great activity to do with a pendulum. You can dowse long distance using a map or sketch. This is an advanced dowsing application, and it is best done with a pendulum. Another application that works great with a pendulum is when you are scanning a body when health dowsing, looking for the origin of a symptom or problem. You can do the same thing using a pendulum over a sketch of the body, asking for a “yes” response when your finger is pointing at the point of origin of the symptom.

A pendulum is not the best tool when you are dowsing outdoors or when walking. Wind makes using a pendulum challenging. If you are seeking underground services, water or minerals, an L- or Y-rod is your best tool. We talk about rods in the next chapter.

Pendulum dowsing is fun and effective. We've given you a taste of some of the key aspects of using a pendulum, but there is much more to share about dowsing. Please click the links below to continue on your dowsing exploration. And if you want to learn how to dowse, check out our Discovering Dowsing course. It will teach you everything you need to know to become a great dowser.